INT-03
Tactical Reporting Formats
SALUTE · SPOT · SALT · SITREP — turning observation into actionable intelligence
An observation nobody reports is intelligence that never reaches the decision-maker. This course teaches four military-standard reporting formats used by infantry, scouts, and security teams to convert raw observations into structured, transmittable intelligence. You will learn what each field requires, why it exists, how to choose the right format for the situation, and how to produce accurate reports under time pressure. Exercises and printable reference cards are included.
The Four Formats
What This Course Covers
These formats are rooted in U.S. Army doctrine (FM 6-99 Report and Message Formats, FM 3-21.8 Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad, FM 2-0 Intelligence) and have been adapted for use by preparedness groups, neighborhood security teams, and Mutual Assistance Groups operating without standing communications infrastructure. The formats are standardized because standardization is what makes reports useful under stress: when every observer uses the same structure, the person receiving the report knows exactly where to look for each piece of information, and transmission errors become obvious rather than invisible.
Knowing the acronyms is not the same as knowing the formats. Most people who encounter these formats in a quick-reference context can recite the letters but cannot correctly complete a report under field conditions, because they have never been taught why each field exists, what a correct entry looks like versus an incorrect one, or how to handle ambiguity in real-time observation. This course fixes that.
Course Lessons
Introduction: Why Reporting Formats Exist
The cost of unstructured reporting, what standardization buys you, and how the four formats relate to each other.
SALUTE: The Full Threat Report
All six fields in depth, field-completion standards, common errors, and how SALUTE feeds higher-level analysis.
SPOT and SALT: Speed-Priority Formats
When to choose SPOT or SALT over SALUTE, how to complete them accurately under time pressure, and upgrading a SALT to a SALUTE.
SITREP: The Situation Report
Periodic status reporting, standard line items, how to integrate SALUTE data into a SITREP, and SITREP in a grid-down communications environment.
Applied Practice: Format Selection and Drafting
Scenario-based exercises requiring students to select the correct format, complete a full report, and identify errors in sample reports.
Downloads for INT-03 Students